Lima, Peru, Mar 22, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- A group of doctors from Peru’s College of Medicine have issued a statement this week rejecting the morning-after pill as abortifacient and arguing that it should therefore not be legalized in the country.

The statement comes as the courts in Peru are hearing a case on whether or not the pill violates Peruvian law.  The doctors point out that both the FDA in the United States, the World Health Organization and the laboratories that produce and distribute the drug “do acknowledge the existence of the anti-implantation mechanism.”

“The mere possibility that the drug’s mechanism is that of preventing implantation of a newly conceived embryo is enough to consider it dangerous for human life,” the doctors added.

The statement also warned of the studies “that relate use of the [morning-after pill] with ectopic pregnancies, which can lead to the death of the mother.  In all of the scientific studies, it has been shown that the rate of side effects is between 25-35%.  Therefore it cannot be said that it is harmless.”

The Peruvian doctors are calling for a “scientific debate on the issue,” in order to determine the truth about the drug and in accord with the role of the physician to “first do no harm.”

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